AZ Alkmaar

AZ Alkmaar is a football club from Alkmaar, the Netherlands. It was founded in 1967 as AZ'67, the result of a merger of Alkmaar '54 and FC Zaanstreek.

Related Topics:
Football - Alkmaar - The Netherlands - 1967

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Owing to the commitment of businessmen Cees and Klaas Molenaar, AZ '67 was successful in the late seventies and early eighties. In 1981 they became Dutch champions and UEFA Cup finalists. After the Molenaar brothers left the club, things went downhill. In 1988 AZ were relegated from the "Eredivisie" (Dutch premier league).

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The involvement of businessman Dick Scheringa in the late nineties marked the revival of the club. AZ returned to the Eredivisie in 1998. In 2004-05 they reappeared in the UEFA Cup tournament, advancing to the semifinals. They also finished third in the Eredivisie that season, again qualifying for the UEFA Cup, after spending most of the season in the top two spots. AZ's home ground is the Alkmaarder Hout which has a spectator capacity of 8390. In the summer of 2006 the club will move to a new stadium.

Related Topics:
Dick Scheringa - Alkmaarder Hout - 2006

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The club manager is Louis van Gaal, who succeeded Co Adriaanse after the 2004-05 season. Interestingly, though not surprisingly, none of the starting eleven of the team were locally born in Alkmaar.

Related Topics:
Louis van Gaal - Co Adriaanse - Alkmaar

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